10 hours ago
Devotees pull chariots as Rath Yatras rolls out with fanfare
Prayagraj: Several grand Rath Yatras of Lord Jagannath were taken out in the Sangam city on Friday with full splendour amid chants of 'Jai Jagannath'.
Shri Jagannath Ji Mahotsav Trust took out a yatra starting from Arya Bhawan.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
It passed through Hatkeshwar Temple, Agrasen Crossing, Chamelibai Inn, Johnstonganj, Ghantaghar, Loknath, Bahadurganj, Ram Bhawan, Mutthiganj, Hatia Police Booth, Baas Mandi and ended at Kasiraj Nagar.
Along with Lord Jagannath's Nandi Ghosh Rath and Vijay Dwaj, chariots of Lord Hanuman, Lord Ganesh, Lord Garun, Sapta Rishi, Lord Vishnu, Panch Pandav, Erawat elephant, Radha-Krishna, Krishna-Balram, Lord Khatu Shyam, and Sita Ram, along with bands from Jhalandhar, were part of the yatra.
Along with the chariot, tableaux of Mahakal Bhasm Aarti, Vrindavan Maharas, Kashi Mradang-dhol and Damru Vadan were also taken out.
"Scores of devotees pulled the chariot's rope throughout the yatra. Devotees performed Lord Jagannath's aarti at various places. Along with this, people served prasad on the way," yatra convenor Rajesh Kesarwani told TOI.
In Shringverpur, a Rath Yatra was rolled under the aegis of Shri Tulsi Sahitya Prachar Samiti and Shringverpur Teerth Kshetra Trust.
The chariot of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balbhadra and sister Subhadra was pulled by the devotees as per the tradition. During the yatra, hundreds of devotees immersed themselves in the colours of devotion and danced on the tunes of musical instruments and conch shells.
Jagannath Swami's Rath Yatra was taken out from Vanvasi Shriram Vishram Ashram, Shringverpur Dham, to Shriram Sandhya Math Ashram located at Shriramghat.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
As per Vedic rituals, the yatra began after performing Naugraha, Kalash Puja, and worshipping Lord Ram, Goddess Janaki and Lord Lakshman as per the time of Nakshatra Mandals. Shringverpur Dham Peethadheeshwar Mahant Ramprasad Das Shastri Maharaj performed the aarti and placed the idols in the chariot.
The yatra left for the dham of Shree Gundicha, where Lord Jagannath rests after reaching his aunt's house. Before reaching Shri Ram Sandhya Math Ashram Shriram Ghat, Jagannath Swami was welcomed with flowers.
Meanwhile, Shri Jagannath Ji Rath Yatra Mahotsav Samiti (Bada Rath) also took out a Rath Yatra with full pomp and show. Apart from colourful religious flags, tableaux of Lord Ganesh, Lord Hanuman, Krishna-Leela, and the chariot of Lord Jagannath were taken out. A large number of devotees pulled the Rath, and mayor Ganesh Kesarwani was heading the procession.
